by Michael Wallace, film student. (Published in The Filmstrip, November 2016 edition.)

Recently, some fellow students and I set out to make a short film – or more specifically, a montage – here at Huntington University Center for Digital Media Arts. This was an exercise facilitated by Professor Phil Wilson in our Production 1 class.

Creating a short film, even a four-minute montage, can be tedious and time-consuming. Here is the basic procedure you (and anyone) should follow when making a film.

Planning is important. Once you’ve got an idea, make sure you get your team on the same page. It is a necessity to have a ‘shot list’, which is just a list in order of which and what kind of shots your film is going to shoot. This is key for organization.

When it comes to shooting day, be prepared. Directors will usually have a copy of the shot list and script in hand, while the crew has their equipment that pertains to their role on set (Directors of Photography will have the camera, actors will have their props, etc.). Note that this is specific to a class exercise or micro-budget project. On a large-scale film set, there will be people specially assigned to the equipment and organization.

Once shooting begins, stick to a timetable. It is crucial that shooting does not go for too long, especially if you are on a schedule. Get in there, get your shots, and get out. The First Assistant Director is usually the one assigned to watch the time and keep everyone on track.

Shoot a lot. Get coverage, which is essentially shots from different angles, shots at different levels of proximity to the actor (shot sizes), and number of takes (a version of a shot). This helps your editor have more to work with, and can result in “buttery smooth” edits.

Once your film has been shot, edited, and exported, all you need is some people to show it to. Grab some popcorn, grab some friends, and screen your finished project. Congratulations, you’ve just made a short film!

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